Monday, April 4, 2011

Salt and sugar

During dinner, W asked about the differences between salt and sugar, so we thought up a few experiments and executed these after our main course.

We began with the sensual experiences of each: how does each look and feel? How does each smell and taste? Thinking back, we should have also tried putting our ears up to the little heaps, but I guess we were not expecting any auditory properties.

Having established that sugar tastes sugary and salt tastes salty, we explored how they behave with water. What happens when a tablespoon of each is mixed into a glass of water? What happens when a little of each is placed onto an ice cube?

Then we searched ingredient lists to see if various food items had one, both, or neither of salt or sugar as an ingredient. After a few items, and perhaps a pattern established, we turned it into a game to try to predict the inclusion of salt or sugar.

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about us

We are a homeschooling family with two boys ages 7 and 4, living in New Hampshire. This year for Second Grade curriculum we are using Math-U-See (Alpha & Beta), The Story of the World Vol 2, the Giant Science resource book, and Explode the Code book 3. For our younger son (preK) we are continuing with Five in a Row Vol. 1, 2 & 3. Art projects, reading together and independently, science experiments, nature studies, spending time outdoors, field trips, and creative play are also things that fill our days. Influenced by the Charlotte Mason education philosophy. Always looking to evolve and adapt as we go.